Organizers cancelling UCI-sanctioned cycling event set for August, cite poor timing

Organizers of the Commonwealth Cycling Classic, a UCI-sanctioned cycling event scheduled for August 24th through the 27th, announced that the inaugural event will not take place in 2017. The event was planned for multiple cities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, including the City of Richmond, host of 2015’s successful UCI Road World Championships.

The event was to be led by Tim Miller, an industry veteran who most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer of Richmond 2015, the organizing committee for the UCI Road World Championships.

“There was strong interest among members of the business community in establishing an annual event and continuing the legacy of the Worlds and capitalizing on all of the success garnered by the event,” Miller said in a news release Friday. “We knew from the outset that pulling it off in 2017 would be a challenge. In the end, we faced several timing issues, including Richmond’s Mayoral transition that added to the complexity.”

The Commonwealth Classic was being organized by RPM Events, an entity Miller formed with several others. Another event the group is producing, the Colorado Classic, will move forward and take place in early August in the state of Colorado.

“The enthusiasm was there, the timing was just unfortunate. I remain hopeful that the group of local stakeholders that have been part of this effort will continue to look for ways to bring international cycling to Richmond and Virginia,” Miller continued, reflecting on the situation. “It’s an exciting sport that can serve as a powerful catalyst for tourism and economic development, while showcasing the region to an international audience in a way that no other sporting event can.”